Amazing God of all surprises that bless and encouarge, share one with this dear reader today; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen!
Our text for today comes from Isaiah 7: 10 God spoke again to Ahaz. This time he said, 11 "Ask for a sign from your God. Ask anything. Be extravagant. Ask for the moon!" 12 But Ahaz said, "I'd never do that. I'd never make demands like that on God!" 13 So Isaiah told him, "Then listen to this, government of David! It's bad enough that you make people tired with your pious, timid hypocrisies, but now you're making God tired. 14 So the Master is going to give you a sign anyway. Watch for this: A girl who is presently a virgin will get pregnant. She'll bear a son and name him Immanuel (God-With-Us). 15 By the time the child is twelve years old, able to make moral decisions, 16 the threat of war will be over. Relax, those two kings that have you so worried will be out of the picture.
Have you ever been so worried about something that you missed all the blessings coming your way while you sat there fretting? Such was the case with King Ahaz. The threat of war, probably the economy of that threat, the unrest among the people, etc., etc., that he couldn't hear what God said to him, "Ask of me anything you want or need, even the moon!" But meek, humble King Ahaz said, "I could never do that!" You snooze, you lose. He missed out on knowing fully that God was on the move and God was about to act in an unexplainable way. Isaiah shares that foundation of this season, that a young girl, who had known no man intimately, would conceive a child whose name would convey his purpose: God with us.
The stress of these days gets to us, too. We need to go here to buy this and we need to go there to buy that. And so it goes, the radio, the TV, the stores remind us, "Only so many shopping days until Christmas!" It's enough to make us drive faster! And when it's all said and done, we've missed the truly glorious gift of this season, the gift from God, Jesus; God-with-us.
Don't drive fast. Don't fret about purchases. Pace yourself and know that God is with you and all will be fine. Thanks to that first Christmas gift, the newborn Messiah born for you and me!
PRAYER: Loving God of all gifts, give to me peace and patience. Help me to measure my steps. Help me to enjoy this day in its fullness, knowing You are with me. I pray this in Jesus' precious Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
